Dispensing brush with housing vavle closure

ABSTRACT

A dispensing brush having a substantially rigid brush plate and a resilient housing atop same. A slide bar in the housing extends across the brush plate from engagement with one housing side through an opposite side of the housing with an aperture in the bar offset from an aperture in the brush plate longitudinally of the bar. Squeezing of the housing by pressure against the external end of the slide plate aligns the apertures for dispensing fluid contained in the housing and pressure release causes the resilient housing to force the slide bar back to original position.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Louis T. Kell's 540 O'Farrell St., Apt. 405, San Francisco, Calif. 94102 [21] Appl. No. 826,531 {22] Filed May 21, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 3, 1971 [54] DISPENSING BRUSH WITH HOUSING VAVLE CLOSURE 9 Claims,4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 401/6, 4011186, 40l/278,40l/280 [51] Int. Cl A461) 5/02 [50] Field of Search 401/6, 8,

152, l56,183,184,186, 280; 128/67, 260; 132/1l2;222/l07.206,2l0,2l3,215

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,690,022 10/1928 Langhaus 401/278 1,727,686 7/1929 Soss 401/280 2,090,050 8/1937 Jackson 128/67 2,887,709 5/1959 Carolonza 401/186 3,130,442 4/1964 Kellis 401/278 FOREIGN PATENTS 484,436 7/1952 Canada 401/280 549,278 2/1923 France 401/281 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Richard P. Dyer Attorney-Gregg & Hendricson ABSTRACT: A dispensing brush having a substantially rigid brush plate and a resilient housing atop same. A slide bar in the housing extends across the brush plate from engagement with one housing side through an opposite side of the housing with an aperture in the bar offset from an aperture in the brush plate longitudinally of the bar. Squeezing of the housing by pressure against the external end of the slide plate aligns the apertures for dispensing fluid contained in the housing and pressure release causes the resilient housing to force the slide bar back to original position. i

DISPENSING BRUSH WITH HOUSING VAVLE CLOSURE BACKGROUND OF INVENTION There have been developed a wide variety of different kinds of brushes incorporating dispensing means for controllably releasing some type of material for use with the brush. Sometimes this type of brush is termed a fountain brush and the basic idea of a dispensing brush has been applied at least to toothbrushes, shaving brushes, hair brushes, powder brushes, and the like. One example of the general principle as applied to a shampoo brush is set forth in my U.S. Pat. No, 3, l 30,442.

Although some of these dispensing brushes have been commercialized, one of the generally accepted difficulties therewith is the usual complexity of construction. While it is acknowledged by many that advantages lie in combining functions of brushing and dispensing the materials to use with the brush, it is also recognized that these advantages, such as convenience of use, must be commensurate with the cost of the finished article in order to meet public acceptance. This, then, requires a simplicity of structure for minimizing manufacturing costs.

A further point in the practicality of this type of device is the freedom of same from clogging, jamming, or otherwise malfunctioning. Again, complicated structures tend to increase the probability of malfunctioning.

While it is generally true that dispensing brushes are somewhat larger than a conventional brush for the same purpose, it is advantageous to minimize the increase in size. For some applications, it is possible to employ the space occupied by a normal handle, or the like, as a container for material to be dispensed. However, again it is necessary to minimize the number, size and complexity of moving parts in order to minimize the overall size of the finished article.

The present invention provides a dispensing brush particu larly applicable for shampooing or the like, which is not only extremely simple of structure, but which provides a positive closing action, so as to simplify use of the invention.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The improved dispensing brush of this invention includes a generally hemispherical housing formed of a flexible resilient material, such as rubber or the like, and having an open bottom. A substantially rigid floor or plate extends across the open bottom of the housing with bristles depending from this plate so as to thus form a brush. The bottom plate has at least one aperture therein which may be disposed at the enter of the plate and the housing as closed by this bristle plate is adapted to contain a material to be dispensed during use of the brush.

Dispensing of material from the brush is accomplished herein by the provision ofa slide bar disposed within the hous ing upon the bottom plate thereof, and extending from contact with one interior side of the housing across the plate in extension outside of the other side of the housing. An enlarged end is provided upon this slide plate outside of the housing, and the plate is also provided with at least one aperture therethrough which is normally out of alignment with the opening in the bottom bristle plate of the housing. This slide plate may also include a tube, pipe, or the like, at the end thereof extending through the housing side with a cap on the exterior thereof, by means of which the housing may be filled with a fluid to be dispensed.

The invention briefly described above is adapted to be employed by a person gripping the housing with one hand in position to place the heel of the hand upon the enlarged portion of the slide plate extending from the housing. In order to dispense a fluid from the housing, the hand is squeezed to thus push the slide plate further into the housing so as to resiliently deform the opposite side of the housing and align the openings in the slide bar and the housing floor or bristle plate. Even with a very viscous fluid disposed in the housing, the flexibility thereof allows squeezing of the housing to force such fluid through the aligned apertures. Release of hand pressure squeezing the housing, allows the housing to resiliently return to original position and thus force the slide bar back to original position with the aperture therein out of alignment with the aperture in the bottom of the housing.

It will thus be seen that the housing itself serves not only to define a reservoir for material to be dispensed, but also serves as a resilient return member for the dispensing valve of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES The present invention is illustrated as to a single preferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an end elevational view of the improved dispensing brush of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the brush taken in the plane 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the brush in section, taken in in the plane 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view, taken in the vertical plane of FIG. 2 and illustrating the position and condition of portions of the invention in operated or dispensing condition.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention is illustrated as to a shampoo brush or the like, which may be employed for washing of the hair and controlled dispensing of shampoo during such operation. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention is formed of a generally hemispherical housing 11 having a peripheral internal flange 12 about the open bottom thereof. This housing element is formed ofa flexible resilient material, such as rubber, and may have substantially any desired configuration such as hexagonal, for example. Across the open bottom of the housing, there is disposed a substantially rigid plate or floor l3, fitting internally of the housing flange 12 and sealed to the housing to thus form a closed chamber 14 adapted to contain a fluid or the like for dispensing by the invention. The plate 13 is provided with depending bristles 16, which may be provided in a variety of ways, is, conventional bristles attached to the plate to plastic depending prongs formed integrally with the plate. In this respect, it is noted that the bottom plate 13 may be formed of a wide variety of materials, such as, for example, a relatively rigid plastic. The term bristle as employed herein is intended to encompass all types of depending fingers or the like which may be employed in the manner of a brush or scratcher for the purpose of shampooing, for example.

The bottom plate 13 is formed with at least one aperture 17 therein, and in the illustrated embodiment such aperture is shown to be located at the center of the plate. Provision is made in the present invention for controllably opening the bottom plate aperture 17 to the interior housing chamber 14 for dispensing fluid from the brush. Such means are comprised as a slide bar 21 disposed diametrically across the plate 13 and engaging both sides of the housing 11. This slide bar 21 has at least one opening 22 therethrough, slightly out of alignment with the aperture 17 in the plate 13 longitudinally of the bar. As shown, there is a single aperture in both the bottom plate 13 and slide bar 21. However, any number of apertures may be provided, each with the limitation that they shall be out of alignment the same amount longitudinally of the bar.

The slide bar 21 has a planar configuration to fit tightly against the top of the bottom plate 13 in slideable engagement therewith. The inner end 23 of the slide bar 21 bears against the inside of the resilient housing 11 and may, if desired, have an upward protuberance thereat, as shown. The opposite end of the slide bar 21 extends through the housing 11 in slideable engagement therewith and is illustrated to include an enlarged apertured portion, hereinafter denominated as a tube 24, fitting through an opening in the housing immediately above the bottom plate 13. This slide bar tube 24 is closed at the outer end by a threaded cap 26 which is preferably somewhat enlarged, as shown, so as to be readily engaged by the heel ofa hand gripping the overall device. The slide bar tube 24 provides means for filling the housing chamber 14 with a fluid to be dispensed by the invention and the cap 26 closes the opening therein to maintain the fluid within the chamber. Vent means may be provided in the housing if desired to prevent the formation of a vacuum therein as fluid is dispensed therefrom.

The present invention is operated for the dispensing of fluid by longitudinal sliding of the slide bar 21 so as to align the aperture or apertures therein with those in the bottom or bristle plate 13. As noted above, the slide bar extends entirely across the bottom of the housing into engagement with the opposite side thereof and thus longitudinal movement of the slide bar further into the housing from the position illustrated in FIG. 2 is only accomplished by resilient deformation of the housing itself at the inner end of the slide bar. Provision is made for ensuring only longitudinal movement of the slide bar upon pressure applied to the exterior thereof and this may be accomplished, for example, by securing the inner end of the slide bar 23 to the inside of the housing 11, or alternatively by providing guide means 31 extending upwardly from the bottom plate 13 alongside of the slide bar as shown in H0. 3.

Considering now the operation or utilization of the present invention, it is first noted that the brush is intended to be used by placing same in the palm of the hand of the user with the heel of the palm against the outer expanded end of the slide bar, as at the cap 26, and the fingers of the hand extending over the opposite side of the housing. By thus gripping the brush it is possible to employ the bristles thereof as for shampooing the hair. Dispensing of shampoo or the like from the brush is accomplished by squeezing the housing to thus force the slide bar 21 further into the housing to align the aperture 22 therein with the bottom plate aperture 17 so as to open the internal chamber 14 to the bottom of the brush. In order to accomplish this action it is necessary that the fingers of the hand not be aligned with the inner end of the slide bar. Proper positioning of the hand may be aided by the provision of one or more finger guides or separators 32 affixed to or formed integrately with the exterior of the housing on the side opposite the extension of the slide bar therefrom, as shown in H65. 1

and 2. The center finger separator 32 extends somewhat down the side of the housing immediately above the slide bar so that the fingers of the hand are separated at the portion of the housing engaged by the inner end of the slide bar. Thus as the hand is closed to squeeze the housing, the heel of the palm will press the slide bar inwardly of the housing to resiliently deform the housing as shown in FIG. 4. To ensure this operation, it is possible to make the housing 11 slightly thinner or more resilient at the portion engaged by the inner end 23 of the slide bar. Not only does this action align the apertures in the slide bar and'bottom plate but also compresses the housing to force the fluid through the aligned apertures. Release of hand pressure allows the housing to resiliently force the slide bar back into original position as shown in FIG. 2 from the position shown in FIG. 4.

it will thus be seen that the present invention provides an extremely simple structure for a dispensing brush which not only provides for ready dispensing of fluid or other material therefrom, but also automatically terminates dispensing upon release of hand pressure thereon. It is of course, not necessary to entirely release the brush from hand gripping in order to terminate dispensing but only to reduce hand pressure upon the brush. Prior art necessity of providing additional return means and complicated valving means for brush dispensers are entirely obviated herein. It is to be further noted that the bottom plate 13 is sealed to the housing in any appropriate manner so that no separation of bottom plate and housing ad jacent the inner end of the slide bar occurs during dispensing operations. A highly simplified structure for dispensing brushes is provided herein which yet incorporates all of the operational features of more complicated and expensive devices of this general type.

Although the present invention has been described with respect to a single preferred embodiment thereof, it is not intended to limit the invention by the terms of description or details of illustration. Reference lS made to the appended claims for a precise delineation of the scope of this invention.

1 claim:

I. An improved dispensing brush comprising:

a resilient housing having an open bottom,

a substantially rigid plate across the open bottom of said housing in sealing relation to the housing and having bristles depending therefrom, said plate having at least one opening therethrough,

a slide bar disposed upon said plate within said housing in extension across the plate into direct contact with said housing at one side thereof and in extension through the other side of said housing, said bar having at least one opening therethrough displaced longitudinally of the bar from the plate openings,

said bar being slidable across said plate by pressure longitudinally upon the end thereof outside said housing to resiliently deform the other housing side and align openings in bar and plate for dispensing of fluid contained in the housing, with said resilient housing returning said slide bar to original position and thus disaligning said openings upon release of said pressure on the slide bar.

2. The dispensing brush of claim 1 further defined by said plate having upwardly extending guide members thereon disposed on opposite sides of said slide bar for preventing lateral bar movement.

3. The dispensing brush of claim 1 further defined by said housing being formed of rubber.

4. The dispensing brush of claim 1 further defined by said housing having a generally hemispherical configuration with an internal flange about the open bottom thereof disposed beneath said brush plate and holding said plate in position.

5. The dispensing brush of claim 1 further defined by said bar having a filler tube formed at the end thereof extending through said housing with a cap upon said tube by means of which said housing may be filled with fluid to be dispensed and said tube slidably engaging the housing at a mating opening therein.

6. The dispensing brush of claim 5 further defined by said filler tube cap having a substantial size to form a heel plate for the hand of a person gripping the housing to squeeze same.

7. The dispensing brush of claim 5 further defined by finger separation projections upon the exterior of said housing with at least one projection extending from the housing atop same and aligned with said slide bar to position the fingers of one gripping the brush on opposite sides of the housing area engaged by the inner end of the slide bar so that the housing can flex thereat as the bar is slid further into the housing to align an opening therethrough with a bottom plate opening.

8. The dispensing brush of claim 1 further defined by the inner end of said slide bar being attached to the inside of said housing.

9. An improved dispensing brush comprising:

a resilient housing having an open bottom,

a bristle plate extending across the open bottom of said housing in closing relation thereto forming a chamber therein and having at least one opening therethrough, said plate having bristles depending therefrom, and

a valve bar extending across said housing into engagement with interior housing sides above said plate and closing the apertures in said plate, said valve bar having an aperture therethrough aligned with and displaced from the opening in said bristle plate longitudinally of said valve bar, said valve bar being movable by lateral resilient movement of said housing with end pressure applied to the bar to open said plate aperture through the valve bar aperture for communication of the chamber with the exterior of the plate at said bristles and said bar resiliently returning to closing relation to said plate apertures with release of said end pressure. 

1. An improved dispensing brush comprising: a resilient housing having an open bottom, a substantially rigid plate across the open bottom of said housing in sealing relation to the housing and having bristles depending therefrom, said plate having at least one opening therethrough, a slide bar disposed upon said plate within said housing in extension across the plate into direct contact with said housing at one side thereof and in extension through the other side of said housing, said bar having at least one opening therethrough displaced longitudinally of the bar from the plate openings, said bar being slidable across said plate by pressure longitudinally upon the end thereof outside said housing to resiliently deform the other housing side and align openings in bar and plate for dispensing of fluid contained in the housing, with said resilient housing returning said slide bar to original position and thus disaligning said openings upon release of said pressure on the slide bar.
 2. The dispensing brush of claim 1 further defined by said plate having upwardly extending guide members thereon disposed on opposite sides of said slide bar for preventing lateral bar movement.
 3. The dispensing brush of claim 1 further defined by said housing being formed of rubber.
 4. The dispensing brush of claim 1 further defined by said housing having a generally hemispherical configuration with an internal flange about the open bottom thereof disposed beneath said brush plate and holding said plate in position.
 5. The dispensing brush of claim 1 further defined by said bar having a filler tube formed at the end thereof extending through said housing with a cap upon said tube by means of which said housing may be filled with fluid to be dispensed and said tube slidably engaging the housing at a mating opening therein.
 6. The dispensing brush of claim 5 further defined by said filler tube cap having a substantial size to form a heel plate for the hand of a person gripping The housing to squeeze same.
 7. The dispensing brush of claim 5 further defined by finger separation projections upon the exterior of said housing with at least one projection extending from the housing atop same and aligned with said slide bar to position the fingers of one gripping the brush on opposite sides of the housing area engaged by the inner end of the slide bar so that the housing can flex thereat as the bar is slid further into the housing to align an opening therethrough with a bottom plate opening.
 8. The dispensing brush of claim 1 further defined by the inner end of said slide bar being attached to the inside of said housing.
 9. An improved dispensing brush comprising: a resilient housing having an open bottom, a bristle plate extending across the open bottom of said housing in closing relation thereto forming a chamber therein and having at least one opening therethrough, said plate having bristles depending therefrom, and a valve bar extending across said housing into engagement with interior housing sides above said plate and closing the apertures in said plate, said valve bar having an aperture therethrough aligned with and displaced from the opening in said bristle plate longitudinally of said valve bar, said valve bar being movable by lateral resilient movement of said housing with end pressure applied to the bar to open said plate aperture through the valve bar aperture for communication of the chamber with the exterior of the plate at said bristles and said bar resiliently returning to closing relation to said plate apertures with release of said end pressure. 